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enSame-Sex Married Couples Now Have Equal Rights to FMLA Leave Regardless of Their Residencehttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/same-sex-married-couples-now-have-equal-rights-fmla-leave-regardless-0
<p>The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a Final Rule revising the regulatory definition of &quot;spouse&quot; under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to ensure that same-sex married couples receive the rights and protections under the FMLA without regard to where they reside.&nbsp; The new definition takes effect on March 27, 2015.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/same-sex-married-couples-now-have-equal-rights-fmla-leave-regardless-0" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/same-sex-married-couples-now-have-equal-rights-fmla-leave-regardless-0#commentsASAPsTue, 03 Mar 2015 14:11:49 +0000Littler137201 at http://www.littler.comFleet-Footed Investigations and Prompt Remedial Action: The New Normalhttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/fleet-footed-investigations-and-prompt-remedial-action-new-normal
<p>Does your company respond to all internal concerns immediately, investigate them thoroughly and remediate them with unmatchable speed?&nbsp; What if the concern comes from an officer, director, lawyer, compliance professional, internal auditor, or an outside accountant?&nbsp; Do you assume you have time because, after all, it is the informant&rsquo;s &ldquo;job&rdquo; to identify and remedy non-compliance?&nbsp; Or do you jump on the concern regardless of who raises it, launching and concluding your investigation and implementing remedial action within 120 days?&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/fleet-footed-investigations-and-prompt-remedial-action-new-normal" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/fleet-footed-investigations-and-prompt-remedial-action-new-normal#commentsASAPsTue, 03 Mar 2015 23:27:44 +0000Littler137251 at http://www.littler.comSEC Targeting Broad Employee Confidentiality Clauseshttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/sec-targeting-broad-employee-confidentiality-clauses
<p>The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has recently contacted a number of companies seeking every confidentiality agreement, nondisclosure agreement, settlement agreement, and severance agreement the companies entered into with employees since the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank) went into effect.&nbsp; According to a February 25, 2015 <em>Wall Street Journal</em> article, the SEC is also seeking documents related to corporate training on confidentiality, as well as &ldquo;all documents that refer or relate to whistleblowing&rdquo; and a list of t<p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/sec-targeting-broad-employee-confidentiality-clauses" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/sec-targeting-broad-employee-confidentiality-clauses#commentsASAPsFri, 27 Feb 2015 20:56:11 +0000Littler137001 at http://www.littler.comNew Protections for Pregnant Employees Set to Take Effect in the District of Columbiahttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/new-protections-pregnant-employees-set-take-effect-district-columbia
<p>Employers in the District of Columbia will soon be required to provide reasonable workplace accommodations to employees whose ability to perform the functions of their positions are limited as a result of pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, or breastfeeding.&nbsp; The Protecting Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2014 (the &quot;Act&quot;), passed by the DC Council last year and currently under Congressional Review, is slated to become effective on March 3, 2015.&nbsp; The DC Council&#39;s actions follow in the steps of recent guidance issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity<p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/new-protections-pregnant-employees-set-take-effect-district-columbia" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/new-protections-pregnant-employees-set-take-effect-district-columbia#commentsASAPsFri, 27 Feb 2015 23:25:09 +0000Littler137006 at http://www.littler.comNew Jersey Supreme Court Provides Guidance to Employers Defending Against Certain Supervisory Harassment Claimshttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/new-jersey-supreme-court-provides-guidance-employers-defending-against
<p>On February 11, 2015, the New Jersey Supreme Court for the first time directly addressed and adopted the standard set forth in the U.S. Supreme Court&#39;s 1998 decisions in <em>Burlington Industries, Inc.</em> <em>v. Ellerth</em><sup>1</sup> and <em>Faragher v. City of Boca Raton</em><sup>2</sup> regarding employer liability for a supervisor&#39;s harassment.&nbsp; In <em>Aguas v.<p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/new-jersey-supreme-court-provides-guidance-employers-defending-against" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/new-jersey-supreme-court-provides-guidance-employers-defending-against#commentsASAPsWed, 18 Feb 2015 19:55:36 +0000Littler136646 at http://www.littler.comPhiladelphia Enacts Paid Sick Leave Ordinance for Virtually All Employershttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/philadelphia-enacts-paid-sick-leave-ordinance-virtually-all-employers
<p>After seven years and two previous vetoes, on February 12, 2015, Philadelphia City Council passed, and Mayor Michael Nutter promptly signed into law, the Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces Ordinance (&quot;the Ordinance&quot;) with a May 13, 2015 effective date.&nbsp; With this action, Philadelphia becomes the 17th major city<sup>1</sup> to mandate that most employers provide paid sick leave to employees, joining several municipalities in neighboring New Jersey, as well as the states of California, Connecticut and Massachusetts.</p><p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/philadelphia-enacts-paid-sick-leave-ordinance-virtually-all-employers" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/philadelphia-enacts-paid-sick-leave-ordinance-virtually-all-employers#commentsASAPsSat, 14 Feb 2015 21:35:58 +0000Littler136436 at http://www.littler.comMichigan Court of Appeals Rules Medical Marijuana Users Discharged for Positive Drug Tests May Still Be Eligible for Unemployment Benefitshttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/michigan-court-appeals-rules-medical-marijuana-users-discharged-positi
<p>In a published decision that may surprise employers, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that an employee terminated for testing positive for marijuana but who possesses a medical marijuana card<sup>1</sup>&nbsp;is not disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits so long as the employee&rsquo;s use of marijuana is in accordance with the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (&ldquo;MMMA&rdquo;), MCL 333.26421, <em>et seq</em>.&nbsp; In <em>Braska v. Challenge Manufacturing Co.</em>, No.<p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/michigan-court-appeals-rules-medical-marijuana-users-discharged-positi" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/michigan-court-appeals-rules-medical-marijuana-users-discharged-positi#commentsASAPsThu, 12 Feb 2015 02:08:20 +0000Littler136196 at http://www.littler.comWhat to Expect When Your Male Employee Is Expecting: Massachusetts Replaces Maternity Leave Act with Parental Leave Acthttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/what-expect-when-your-male-employee-expecting-massachusetts-replaces-m
<p>Effective April 7, 2015, the Massachusetts Maternity Leave Act will be replaced by the Parental Leave Act (&quot;PLA&quot;). The new law expands the scope of the Maternity Leave Act by extending parental leave rights to men.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/what-expect-when-your-male-employee-expecting-massachusetts-replaces-m" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/what-expect-when-your-male-employee-expecting-massachusetts-replaces-m#commentsASAPsFri, 06 Feb 2015 16:10:33 +0000Littler135936 at http://www.littler.comCalifornia Supreme Court Clarifies When An Arbitration Award May Be Corrected http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/california-supreme-court-clarifies-when-arbitration-award-may-be-corre
<p>On January 29, 2015, the California Supreme Court issued a decision clarifying the circumstances under which an arbitrator&rsquo;s award may be corrected.&nbsp; In <em>Richey v. Autonation, Inc.</em>, No. BC408319 (Cal. Jan.<p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/california-supreme-court-clarifies-when-arbitration-award-may-be-corre" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/california-supreme-court-clarifies-when-arbitration-award-may-be-corre#commentsASAPsThu, 05 Feb 2015 01:52:00 +0000Littler135841 at http://www.littler.comSupreme Court Continues to Advance Broad View of Whistleblower Protectionshttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/supreme-court-continues-advance-broad-view-whistleblower-protections
<p>Various whistleblower laws protect employees who &quot;lawfully&quot; disclose confidential information in good faith to bring to light illicit or illegal activity. Generally, therefore, employees do not receive whistleblower protections when they obtain or disclose the information illegally.&nbsp; A recent U.S. Supreme Court case however, demonstrates an exception to that rule. In <em>Department of Homeland Security v.<p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/supreme-court-continues-advance-broad-view-whistleblower-protections" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/supreme-court-continues-advance-broad-view-whistleblower-protections#commentsASAPsThu, 29 Jan 2015 21:17:53 +0000Littler135491 at http://www.littler.comU.S. Supreme Court Rejects the Yard-Man Inference Vesting Lifetime Benefits for Union Retireeshttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/us-supreme-court-rejects-yard-man-inference-vesting-lifetime-benefits-
<p>In <em>M&amp;G Polymers USA, LLC v. Tackett</em>, <sup>1</sup>&nbsp;the U.S. Supreme Court overturned three decades of precedent by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, unanimously ruling that, when no specific provision in a collective-bargaining agreement (CBA) addresses the duration of retiree benefits, reviewing courts may not infer that the parties intended those benefits to vest for life.&nbsp; All nine justices agreed that courts must apply &ldquo;ordinary principles of contract law&rdquo; to determine the parties&rsquo; intent.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/us-supreme-court-rejects-yard-man-inference-vesting-lifetime-benefits-" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/us-supreme-court-rejects-yard-man-inference-vesting-lifetime-benefits-#commentsASAPsWed, 28 Jan 2015 12:40:45 +0000Littler135301 at http://www.littler.comThe Explosion of Paid Sick Leave In New Jerseyhttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/explosion-paid-sick-leave-new-jersey
<p>The trend of municipalities in New Jersey enacting paid sick leave ordinances continues.&nbsp; Littler previously reported on the enactment of two such laws in Jersey City (effective January 24, 2014)<sup>1</sup>&nbsp;and Newark (effective May 29, 2014).<sup>2</sup>&nbsp; Since that time, an additional six municipalities in New Jersey have passed paid sick leave laws including Passaic, East Orange, Paterson, Irvington, Trenton and Montclair.&nbsp; &nbsp;For the most part, the ordinances are consistent and generally model Newark&rsquo;s paid sick leave law, which differs from the Jersey City<p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/explosion-paid-sick-leave-new-jersey" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/explosion-paid-sick-leave-new-jersey#commentsASAPsFri, 23 Jan 2015 19:46:49 +0000Littler135176 at http://www.littler.comDC's Amended Wage Theft Prevention Act Expands Employer Penalties and Imposes New Notice Requirementshttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/dcs-amended-wage-theft-prevention-act-expands-employer-penalties-and-i
<p>The District of Columbia is set to implement the Wage Theft Prevention Amendment Act of 2014 (the &quot;Act&quot;), a measure broad in scope that amends several existing D.C. laws. Notably, the Act amends D.C.&#39;s wage payment and collection laws, minimum wage law, and the Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act of 2008.&nbsp; The Act enhances remedies, fines, and administrative penalties when an employer fails to pay earned wages, and includes new anti-retaliation provisions and a written notice requirement that will affect all D.C. employers. According to the D.C.<p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/dcs-amended-wage-theft-prevention-act-expands-employer-penalties-and-i" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/dcs-amended-wage-theft-prevention-act-expands-employer-penalties-and-i#commentsASAPsWed, 21 Jan 2015 14:30:18 +0000Littler134881 at http://www.littler.comNo Lullaby for Employers: California Supreme Court Finds Sleep Periods Considered 'Hours Worked'http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/no-lullaby-employers-california-supreme-court-finds-sleep-periods-cons
<p>In <a href="http://www.littler.com/files/press/related-files/Mendiola.pdf"><em>Mendiola v. CPS Security Solutions, Inc</em>., S212704 (Jan.<p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/no-lullaby-employers-california-supreme-court-finds-sleep-periods-cons" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/no-lullaby-employers-california-supreme-court-finds-sleep-periods-cons#commentsASAPsTue, 13 Jan 2015 21:33:41 +0000Littler134616 at http://www.littler.comAn Update on the Epidemic: California’s Statewide Paid Sick Leave Law http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/update-epidemic-california%E2%80%99s-statewide-paid-sick-leave-law
<p>On January 1, 2015, California &#39;s Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 (California paid sick leave act) went into effect. &nbsp;When Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr.<p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/update-epidemic-california%E2%80%99s-statewide-paid-sick-leave-law" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/update-epidemic-california%E2%80%99s-statewide-paid-sick-leave-law#commentsASAPsTue, 13 Jan 2015 00:35:05 +0000Littler134581 at http://www.littler.comKey Changes to New York's Wage Theft Prevention Act Become Lawhttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/key-changes-new-yorks-wage-theft-prevention-act-become-law
<p>After a delay of nearly six months, on December 29, 2014, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into a law a bill (A 8106-C, S5885-B) that amends the state&#39;s Labor Law, including the Wage Theft Prevention Act (the WTPA), and the law&#39;s application to limited liability companies, contractors and successor employers.&nbsp; The key provisions of the amendments, which become effective on February 27, 2015, (i) eliminate the burdensome annual wage notice requirement; (ii) significantly increase penalties for non-compliance with the WTPA; (iii) expand contractor accountability, successor l<p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/key-changes-new-yorks-wage-theft-prevention-act-become-law" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/key-changes-new-yorks-wage-theft-prevention-act-become-law#commentsASAPsWed, 31 Dec 2014 17:43:46 +0000Littler134276 at http://www.littler.comMassachusetts Extends Labor and Employment Protections to Domestic Workershttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/massachusetts-extends-labor-and-employment-protections-domestic-worker
<p>Effective April 1, 2015, Massachusetts will become the fourth state (after New York, California and Hawaii) to extend employment protections specifically to domestic workers. &nbsp;The &quot;Domestic Workers&#39; Bill of Rights&quot;<sup>1</sup> creates new legal obligations for any individual or family in Massachusetts who employs a domestic worker, and is expected to affect approximately 67,000 nannies, housekeepers, caregivers and other domestic workers.<p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/massachusetts-extends-labor-and-employment-protections-domestic-worker" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/massachusetts-extends-labor-and-employment-protections-domestic-worker#commentsASAPsTue, 30 Dec 2014 15:31:10 +0000Littler134206 at http://www.littler.comNinth Circuit Finds State Trespass and Nuisance Laws Not Preempted by Secondary Boycott Lawhttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/ninth-circuit-finds-state-trespass-and-nuisance-laws-not-preempted-sec
<p>In a recent decision involving the interplay between California law and federal labor law, the U.S.<p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/ninth-circuit-finds-state-trespass-and-nuisance-laws-not-preempted-sec" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/ninth-circuit-finds-state-trespass-and-nuisance-laws-not-preempted-sec#commentsASAPsMon, 29 Dec 2014 21:56:00 +0000Littler134196 at http://www.littler.comWest Virginia DOL Withdraws Proposed Emergency Wage and Hour Regulationshttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/west-virginia-dol-withdraws-proposed-emergency-wage-and-hour-regulatio
<p>In welcome news for employers, the West Virginia Department of Labor (WVDOL) has withdrawn a set of emergency regulations that would have significantly revamped state wage and hour requirements and created conflicts with federal wage and hour regulations.&nbsp; The WVDOL proposed the regulations to West Virginia&#39;s Secretary of State on November 19, 2014 and requested they take effect on January 1, 2015, giving employers little time to respond to the proposal or develop compliance strategies.&nbsp; Despite the eleventh-hour approach used by the WVDOL, employers mounted a focused response<p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/west-virginia-dol-withdraws-proposed-emergency-wage-and-hour-regulatio" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/west-virginia-dol-withdraws-proposed-emergency-wage-and-hour-regulatio#commentsASAPsMon, 29 Dec 2014 21:29:08 +0000Littler134186 at http://www.littler.comNLRB Changes Standard for Deferral to Arbitration in Discrimination and Retaliation Caseshttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/nlrb-changes-standard-deferral-arbitration-discrimination-and-retaliat
<p>In a significant recent decision, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) again abandoned long-standing, accepted Board precedent.&nbsp; In <em>Babcock &amp; Wilcox Construction Co.</em>, 361 NLRB No. 132 (Dec.<p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/nlrb-changes-standard-deferral-arbitration-discrimination-and-retaliat" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/nlrb-changes-standard-deferral-arbitration-discrimination-and-retaliat#commentsASAPsWed, 24 Dec 2014 16:21:52 +0000Littler134111 at http://www.littler.comU.S. Supreme Court: Antitheft Security Screening Not Part of the Job for FLSA Compensation Purposeshttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/us-supreme-court-antitheft-security-screening-not-part-job-flsa-compen
<p>Employers across the country are breathing a sigh of relief following the December 9, 2014 unanimous ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court that time spent by warehouse workers waiting for and undergoing antitheft security screening is not compensable time under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).&nbsp; <em>Integrity Staffing Solutions, Inc. v. Busk et al.</em>, No.<p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/us-supreme-court-antitheft-security-screening-not-part-job-flsa-compen" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/us-supreme-court-antitheft-security-screening-not-part-job-flsa-compen#commentsASAPsTue, 23 Dec 2014 16:34:19 +0000Littler134016 at http://www.littler.com2015 Hot Topics for Multinational Companieshttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/2015-hot-topics-multinational-companies
<p>As we enter the New Year, Littler&#39;s international practice has identified a number of key employment and labor law issues for multinational companies (MNCs).&nbsp; The past year has brought to the fore some challenging issues likely to grow in importance in 2015, among them the increasing strength of global unions as well as the ever-growing importance of corporate compliance.&nbsp; While some of these topics are certainly familiar&mdash;data privacy and whistleblower protection, for example&mdash;the continuing importance and expansion of these issues highlight their increased complexi<p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/2015-hot-topics-multinational-companies" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/2015-hot-topics-multinational-companies#commentsASAPsMon, 22 Dec 2014 16:10:55 +0000Littler133926 at http://www.littler.comACA Outlook: What Will 2015 Hold for the Affordable Care Act and Employers?http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/aca-outlook-what-will-2015-hold-affordable-care-act-and-employers
<p>For many employers, the effective date of the Affordable Care Act&#39;s &quot;play-or-pay&quot; mandate is only weeks away. The impending deadline comes amid questions about the future&mdash;and perhaps viability&mdash;of the law itself. Entering 2015, the ACA faces challenges both in a new Republican-controlled Congress and in the Supreme Court. Yet, the political and legal uncertainty surrounding the ACA should not deter employers from ensuring they are prepared for the &quot;play-or-pay&quot; mandate and other upcoming requirements.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/aca-outlook-what-will-2015-hold-affordable-care-act-and-employers" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/aca-outlook-what-will-2015-hold-affordable-care-act-and-employers#commentsASAPsThu, 18 Dec 2014 17:59:45 +0000Littler133776 at http://www.littler.comMinnesota Court Overturns 20 Years of Precedent to Extend Whistleblower Statute of Limitations to Six Yearshttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/minnesota-court-overturns-20-years-precedent-extend-whistleblower-stat
<p>On December 15, 2014, the Minnesota Court of Appeals extended the statute of limitations for Minnesota Whistleblower Act (MWA) claims from two to six years.&nbsp; In <em>Ford v.<p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/minnesota-court-overturns-20-years-precedent-extend-whistleblower-stat" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/minnesota-court-overturns-20-years-precedent-extend-whistleblower-stat#commentsASAPsWed, 17 Dec 2014 22:42:49 +0000Littler133751 at http://www.littler.comSan Francisco's OLSE Issues "FAQs" On Fair Chance Ordinancehttp://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/san-franciscos-olse-issues-faqs-fair-chance-ordinance
<p>Starting on August 13, 2014, employers doing business in the City of San Francisco, California have had to comply with sweeping amendments to San Francisco Police Code, Article 49, and Administrative Code, Article 12 (&quot;the amendments,&quot; &quot;the ordinances&quot; or the &quot;FCO&quot;), which significantly restrict the ability of covered employers to inquire into, and use, criminal records for hiring and other employment purposes.&nbsp; The scope of the amendments far exceeds the breadth of any of the other so-called &quot;ban-the-box&quot; laws.<sup>1</sup>&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/san-franciscos-olse-issues-faqs-fair-chance-ordinance" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/san-franciscos-olse-issues-faqs-fair-chance-ordinance#commentsASAPsThu, 18 Dec 2014 00:29:32 +0000Littler133761 at http://www.littler.com